Abstract: A storage router and method for providing virtual local storage on remote storage devices to devices are provided. Devices are connected to a first transport medium, and a plurality of storage devices are connected to a second transport medium. In one embodiment, the storage router maintains a map to allocate storage space on the remote storage devices to devices connected to the first transport medium by associating representations of the devices connected to the first transport medium with representations of storage space on the remote storage devices, wherein each representation of a device connected to the first transport medium is associated with one or more representations of storage space on the remote storage devices. The storage router can control access from the devices connected to the first transport medium to the storage space on the remote storage devices in accordance with the access controls.

Abstract: An intermediate device communicatively connected to a host device and a sequential device in a storage area network. The host device is configured to issue different kinds of commands to the sequential device, including an inquiry command. The sequential device is configured to sequentially process requests from the host device. The intermediate device is configured to cache inquiry data about the sequential device itself in a cache memory connected to the intermediate device and service inquiry commands from the host device.